---
layout: '@/layouts/DocsLayout.astro'
source: pirform
description: Learn how to work with boards and circuits when creating electrical certificates with Shine Forms.
---


You can work with the boards and circuits in your certificates from the **Circuits and Test Results** area.

:::tip{title="Working with multiple boards"}
The **Circuits and Test Results** area lets you focus on a single board at a time. But you can work on all your boards together by using [the Board Manager](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/board-manager).
:::


# Overview

Use the ribbon to add, copy, or remove boards and circuits, change the ordering, merge or unmerge three-phase circuit groups, and adjust observations at the board.

![Screenshot showing the ribbon interface for managing boards and circuits in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits.webp)

:::success{title="Understanding intelligence at the board and circuit level"}
The Circuit Helper feature brings circuit intelligence right into the circuits and test results. This makes it easier to understand the board you're working on and much easier when reviewing and checking work.  You can read more about the Circuit Helper [here](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/circuit-helper).
:::


Select the board you want to work with using the board selection control. The **Find Box** lets you search for the board you want to work with. You can also hold the **Ctrl** and **Alt** keys and use the **Up** or **Down** arrows to move through your boards (read more about the keyboard shortcuts [here](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/keyboard-shortcuts)).

![Screenshot showing the board selection control and navigation options in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-select.webp)


# Observations at a board

Observations against the board are shown in the separate **Observations** tab.

![Screenshot showing the Observations tab for boards in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-observations.png)

# Circuit remarks

You can enter remarks against a circuit to record, for example, that the circuit is made up of twin cables.

To enter remarks, first toggle them by clicking **Show Remarks** in the ribbon, select the appropriate circuit, then enter the remarks at the bottom of the screen:

![Screenshot highlighting how to add circuit remarks in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-remarks.png)

These appear on the certificate in the remarks section of the certificate's PDF.

![PDF screenshot showing circuit remarks in the remarks section](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-remarks-pdf.png)

# Report protective devices as bidirectional or unidirectional

A3 2024 introduces new guidance in 530.3.201 around when protective devices are bidirectional or unidirectional. You can use circuit remarks for any comments against the circuit:

![Screenshot highlighting circuit remarks entered against a circuit in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-remarks.png)

# Notes at a board

You can also enter notes against the board to record, for example, items required for later works. These do not appear on the certificate but can be viewed in the [Board Manager](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/board-manager) and [exported to Excel](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/save-to-excel#exporting-boards-and-circuits-to-excel) to work with outside of Shine Forms.

![Screenshot showing the notes entry area for boards in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-notes.png)

# Copying boards and circuits

In the **Circuits and Test Results** section of the certificate, you will find features for copying boards and circuits.

![Screenshot highlighting the ribbon interface for copying boards and circuits](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/ribbon-circuits-and-test-results.png)

:::note{title="Copying boards between certificates"}
You can copy boards to other certificates using the [certificate merge feature](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/merging-certificates).
:::


## Copying boards

Go to the board you want to copy and click **Copy Board** in the ribbon. You will be presented with the option to copy with the same supply or with the supply as the origin.

![Screenshot showing the dialog box before copying a board in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/board-copy-before.png)

A new board will be created with "copy N" appended to the designation.

![Screenshot showing the newly created board with copy appended to its name](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/board-copy-after.png)

## Copying circuits

Select the circuit you want to copy (the marker in the leftmost column has an arrow to show the selected circuit) and then choose one of the options under the **Copy Circuit** menu in the ribbon:

![Screenshot highlighting circuit copy options in the ribbon menu](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-copy.png)

If you select **Copy to Current Board**, a new circuit with the same values as the selected circuit will be created in the current board.

If you select **Copy to Clipboard**, the selected circuit will be available for pasting into any board you choose. You can paste the copied circuit as many times as you wish. You can see the circuit that is in the clipboard at the bottom of the screen.

Once a circuit has been copied, the menu allows pasting the circuit both as a new circuit or as values into the currently selected circuit.

![Screenshot showing the Paste Circuit options in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-paste.png)

:::tip{title="Pasting test results"}
You can control whether Shine Forms pastes the test results as well as the circuit details from inside [Shine Forms Options](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/options#shine-forms-options) by ticking the option **Include test results when pasting circuits**:
:::


![Screenshot highlighting the circuit paste options in Shine Forms Settings](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/options-circuit-options.png)

:::note{title="Copying and pasting circuits with keyboard shortcuts"}
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to copy and paste circuits, as well as move a circuit's location in a board. See [here](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/keyboard-shortcuts) for more.
:::


# Marking a circuit as a spare

You can mark a circuit as spare by entering using just the word "**spare**" as the circuit designation. This will clear any values in that circuit and the circuit will be ignored when copying values down from another circuit.  If you use any other text, such as "spare circuit" or "spare tills", then Shine Forms will not mark it as a spare.

You can adjust this behaviour in the options **The word "spare" is marks circuits as spare** and **Blank circuits are spare** in either the [Shine Forms Options](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/options#shine-forms-options) or the [Certificate Options](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/options#certificate-options).

![A section of the configuration options showing the spare circuit options](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/spare-circuit-options.webp)

:::tip{title="Automatically clearing spares"}
Shine Forms will automatically clear the values in a circuit when you mark it as a spare. You can control whether this happens from [Shine Forms Options](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/options#shine-forms-options) by ticking the option **Automatically Clear Spares**:
![Screenshot showing the Automatically Clear Spares option in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/options-circuit-options.png)
:::

## Additional markers for spares

You can add your own keywords that mark circuits as spares.  Add them into the **Spare keywords** list by clicking the **Add** button and entering the keyword.  You can add as many keywords as you like, and they will be treated the same as the word "spare" when they are used in a circuit designation.  In the image above, the keyword **RCD Module** has been added and will mark a circuit as spare when used in the circuit's designation.   

When the option **Allow other words in designation** is ticked, it tells Shine Forms to allow other words in the designation.  So **RCD Module 1** and **RCD Module 2** will both be treated as spares.  If that option is not ticked, only **RCD Module** with no other words will be treated as a spare.


# Changing the board phase

You can change the phase of the board by selecting the required phase in the board characteristics. Shine Forms will automatically adjust the numbering scheme when you change between single-phase and three-phase.

:::note{title="Adding circuits in three-phase boards"}
If you change the board to three-phase, Shine Forms will add circuits in groups of three.
:::


![Screenshot showing the board phase settings in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-board-phase.png)

# Merging three-phase circuits

You can merge or unmerge a circuit in a three-phase board by using the **Three Phase** menu item in the ribbon.

:::tip{title="Merging circuits with keyboard shortcuts"}
You can do many things, including merge and unmerge circuits, using [the keyboard shortcuts](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/keyboard-shortcuts).
:::


![Screenshot highlighting the merge circuit functionality in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-merge-circuit.png)

# Copying circuit values

Select a cell in the circuit grid and right-click to show a menu that allows copying and pasting values. The functionality in the menu is also available from the ribbon.

![Screenshot showing the menu to copy and paste circuit values in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-copy-value-menu.png)

The following functionality is available:

- **Copy** will copy the value in the current cell so that you can later use **Paste** to paste it into another cell.
- **Copy To Blanks** will copy the current cell value down, stopping at the next cell that has a value.
- **Copy To All Blanks** will copy the current cell value to all blank cells in the same column.
- **Copy To All** will copy the current cell value to all cells in the same column (blanks and those that have values).

:::note{title="Spare circuits when copying"}
Spare circuits are ignored when copying values from other cells.
:::


# Moving circuits

The **Move Circuit** item in the ribbon allows you to move the selected circuit up or down.

![Screenshot highlighting the Move Circuit option in the ribbon menu of Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/board-move-circuit-ribbon.png)

Moving circuits up or down in a single-phase board is straightforward and works as you would expect.

Moving circuits in a three-phase board works as follows:

- The circuit will move up or down until it becomes the first or last circuit in its group.
- If a circuit at the top or bottom of its group is moved, the whole circuit group is moved in the board.

:::tip{title="Moving circuits between groups"}
The easiest way to move circuits between groups is to change the board to single-phase, move your circuits as required, then change the board back to three-phase.
:::


To show how that works, let's start off with a circuit in the middle of a three-phase group, 3L2:
![Before move: screenshot showing circuit 3L2 in its initial position within a three-phase group](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-move-tp-1.png)

Moving it up takes it to the top of the group and Shine Forms renumbers the circuits to make the circuit we moved 3L1:

![After first move: screenshot showing circuit 3L2 moved up to 3L1 within the same three-phase group](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-move-tp-2.png)

As it's at the top of the group, moving it up moves the whole of the 3L\* group up above the previous groups. Shine Forms renumbers to swap the 2L\* and 3L\* numberings:

![Screenshot showing a three-phase group renumbering after moving 3L1 to the top of the next group](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-move-tp-3.png)

If we then move it back down twice, it will be at the bottom of its group:

![Screenshot showing circuit 3L2 at the bottom position within its current group](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-move-tp-4.png)

After that, moving it down will move the whole group to be below the following group, renumbering again:

![Screenshot showing 3L2's group swapped below another group after further movement](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-move-tp-5.png)

If we move it down again, it will move over the merged group 4TP below:

![Screenshot showing merged group 4TP after moving 3L2's group further down](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/circuit-move-tp-6.png)

# Resetting max Zs values

The **Reset Max Zs** button in the ribbon allows you to recalculate max Zs values. You can control whether manually entered max Zs values are reset during recalculation and you can choose whether to reset values for either the current board or all boards in the certificate.

![Screenshot highlighting the Reset Max Zs options in the ribbon menu](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/board-reset-max-zs.png)

In this menu, there are options to reset the values for circuits in the current board or in all boards.

Max Zs values that have been entered by the engineer and not calculated by Shine Forms can be reset by selecting the menu items that start with the word "force".

## Entering max Zs values

You can set Shine Forms to allow entry of max Zs values by ticking the box **Allow changes to max Zs values** under the **Max Zs** section in [Shine Forms Options](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/options#shine-forms-options).

![Screenshot showing the Max Zs settings in Shine Forms Options](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/options-max-zs.png)

# Using the board date

The board date is the date Shine Forms uses as the inspection date when you add new boards. Keeping the board date separate from the main date of inspection is useful in scenarios such as when you are working on a rolling program of inspections for an installation and reporting in a single certificate.

The board date will be first set to the date of inspection when that is first set, but you can select any other date directly from the ribbon (the same is available in the [Board Manager](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/board-manager)):

![Screenshot highlighting the board date settings in Shine Forms](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-board-date.png)

# Updating the inspection date

When you are working on a rolling program of inspections, you will often create new certificates by [copying the previous certificate](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/creating-certificates#copying-and-creating-certificates). When you set the new inspection date in that new copy, you don't always want to change the board inspection date for all boards in your new certificate.

Shine Forms recognizes this and asks whether you want to update the inspection dates for boards that match the previous date before making any changes. You can also optionally update the inspection schedule date and the board date for the certificate:

![Screenshot showing the confirmation dialog when updating the date of inspection](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-confirm-update-date-of-inspection.png)

If there are boards matching the old inspection date, then Shine Forms only asks if you want to update the inspection schedule date and the board date for the certificate:

![Screenshot showing the confirmation dialog for updating only the schedule date](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-confirm-update-date-of-only-schedule-date.png)

# Other wiring types

:::tip{title="Adjusting the drop-down lists"}
Read how to adjust the drop-down lists in Shine Forms [here](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/drop-down-list-manager).
:::


Shine Forms has the wiring types A-H pre-configured. If you need to use a different wiring type, you can enter it in the Wiring Types in the [Drop-down List Manager](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/drop-down-list-manager).

![Screenshot showing the configuration of other wiring types in the drop-down manager](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-other-wiring-types-values.png)

When you select these, they will be shown in the PDF in the "Other" section for the relevant board.

![Screenshot showing the Other wiring types represented in the PDF](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/boards-and-circuits-other-wiring-types-pdf.png)

# Ring circuits

By default, Shine Forms treats all circuits as radial unless specified otherwise.  To mark a circuit as a ring final circuit, 
include the word **ring** in the circuit designation.  (_This applies to versions 2025.3 and later_)

![Shine Forms' intelligence reverting for a correctly sized ring circuit](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/_img/ring-circuit-intelligence.gif)

As you would expect, Shine Forms' handling of ring final circuits follows the guidance from the [IET's On-Site Guide](https://shop.theiet.org/on-site-guide-bs-7671-2018-a2-2022-8th-edition).  More details can be found [here](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/reference/on-site-guide-intelligence).  

# Parallel cables

There is no provision in the program currently for handling parallel cabling.

However, what can be done is to select the appropriate cable size and to add a note in the description to say that there are two (or more) cables coming in.

If there is any intelligence that arises that is not relevant or appropriate then it can be [suppressed](https://www.shineforms.co.uk/docs/intelligence#suppressing-intelligence) from the Intelligence Manager, then enter any relevant observations manually.